Pittsburgh History

Pittsburgh, the “Smoky City” Pittsburgh was once known as the “Smoky City” or “Hell With the Lid Off” due to the overwhelming befouled conditions that plagued it for over a century. Its geographic location and natural resource endowments made it an ideal home for the industries that inevitably created the pollution problem. The city’s dark past has been described as a cautionary tale for cities […]

George Washington visited the area in 1753 and found the land at the Point to be an ideal place for a fort. At this time, Marquis Duquesne, the governor of Canada was planning to seize the Ohio Valley for the French. He planned to construct a fort at the Point. Washington and the English retaliated. Captain William Trent arrived at the Point in 1754 and […]

H.J. Heinz Company in Pittsburgh The Heinz factory was famous for its cleanliness, in fact, Henry insisted upon it throughout the entire plant. Women were supplied with uniforms and there were showers and changing rooms for both males and females on the premises for the employees to use. The “factory tour” was invented by Heinz himself in 1899 so that people who wanted to watch […]

H.J. Heinz – A Pittsburgh Legacy Henry John Heinz left a considerable legacy in the city of Pittsburgh. Henry John was the oldest of eight children born to German immigrants. He was a hard working businessman that started a business it into a multimillion dollar enterprise based in Pittsburgh. In honor of Henry’s wife, Sarah, the Sarah Heinz House was built in 1913. This was […]

Heinz – A Pittsburgh Marketer Ahead of His Time Heinz was a brilliant marketer and was always thinking of ways to promote his company and its products. He introduced the “pickle charm” to the world in 1893 at the Chicago World’s Fair. That pickle charm evolved in his famous “pickle pin.” At that fair Henry was not happy to have his company’s exhibit on the […]

It’s enhanced more hamburger than Hamburger Helper. With French fries it has formed as perfect a union as peanut butter and chocolate, and it’s made your mother-in-law’s meatloaf edible. What is this marvelous, miraculous substance? Why, it’s none other than Heinz Ketchup-the taste loved ’round the world. Pittsburgh’s Henry J. Heinz Henry J. Heinz, the son of German immigrants, Frederick and Margaretta (Schmit) Heinz, was […]

Whether it is the Jordan, Ganges, or Nile, rivers seem to draw people to them. It is no different in Pittsburgh, where the confluence of the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers has been luring inhabitants to their banks for centuries. Early History Long before Colonel George Washington’s arrival in 1755 on a surveying mission, Native Americans such as the Shawnee, Seneca, and Lenape were thriving […]

Pittsburgh’s military history reaches back to the founding of our nation and beyond. Before the Revolutionary War, George Washington, “The Father of our Country,” began his military career in Western Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War. In 1758, he and General John Forbes drove the French from Fort Duquesne. The fate of over half of North America was decided right at the “point,” […]

Pittsburgh is proud of its famous sons and daughters, including William Pitt, Stephen Foster, Andrew Carnegie, Nellie Bly, and Fred Rogers. But like most families, Pittsburgh has had its share of black sheep. Some of Pittsburgh’s most notorious residents have stories that still fascinate today. Simon Girty You may have heard of the stream called Girty’s Run. A tributary of the Allegheny River that runs […]

Sad to say, but by the conclusion of World War II Pittsburgh was looking a bit shabby, and corporations found it increasingly difficult to lure talent to the city. Consequently, many corporations threatened to leave the area. Fearing an exodus, the city fathers deemed that Pittsburgh needed a facelift or a “renaissance.” Renaissance I To kick off this major urban renewal, later known as Renaissance […]

Interested in submitting a story or article?

Most Recent Articles

Our Entrepreneur of the month. Kevin Campbell is great for fixing all your personal and business computer needs. From writers and business coaches to tech companies, Pittsburgh is home to a growing number of entrepreneurs. If you are an entrepreneur and would like to see your business featured below, please contact us for details at: info@popularpittsburgh.com. TeamRenoPittsburgh Michel Wright and...

By: Janice Lane Palko According to EPIC , the Irish Emigration Museum, there are 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish ancestry and heritage. Recent census information reveals that one in six Pittsburghers claim Irish ancestry. With so many having green roots, chances are you may be Irish or know someone who is, and you may also be wondering what...